title: Effects of noninvasive brain stimulation on language networks and recovery in early poststroke aphasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Modulation of activity in language networks using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may possibly support recovery from poststroke aphasia. Case series and feasibility studies seem to indicate a therapeutic effect; however, randomized sham-controlled, proof-of-principle studies relating clinical effects to activation patterns are missing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with subacute poststroke aphasia were randomized to a 10-day protocol of 20-minute inhibitory 1 Hz rTMS over the right triangular part of the posterior inferior frontal gyrus or sham stimulation, followed by 45 minutes of speech and language therapy. Activity in language networks was measured with O-15-water positron emission tomography during verb generation before and after treatment. Language performance was assessed using the Aachen Aphasia Test battery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary outcome measure, global Aachen Aphasia Test score change, was significantly higher in the rTMS group (t test, P=0.003). Increases were largest for subtest naming (P=0.002) and tended to be higher for comprehension, token test, and writing (P<0.1). Patients in the rTMS group activated proportionally more voxels in the left hemisphere after treatment than before (difference in activation volume index) compared with sham-treated patients (t test, P=0.002).There was a moderate but significant linear relationship between activation volume index change and global Aachen Aphasia Test score change (r2=0.25; P=0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ten sessions of inhibitory rTMS over the right posterior inferior frontal gyrus, in combination with speech and language therapy, significantly improve language recovery in subacute ischemic stroke and favor recruitment of left-hemispheric language networks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. alexander.thiel@mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rubi-Fessen
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anglade
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kracht
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weiduschat
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rommel
authors.forename: Wolf-Dieter
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Heiss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: plasticity; recovery; stroke; transcranial magnetic stimulation; treatment